ALCOHOL

Excessive alcohol consumption is killing more people than drug overdoses, but you see almost nothing about this problem in the headlines. We take a closer look at the depth of this challenge to social and individual health.

It’s not hard to see plenty of signs that alcohol consumption —even excessive consumption—among women is being normalized. Taken one at a time, these signs may not be startling. But step back and look at the bigger picture and things look a little more sinister.

Alcohol ads make drinking look like a lot of fun or a sure way to attract the opposite sex. But if you think about it for a minute, that might not be all of the story. If you watch any kind of cable or broadcast television, you’ve seen ads for alcohol.

When people hear that alcohol is the most addictive drug in the world, their instantaneous response is usually one of disbelief. Most people do not believe this to be true, because after all, everyone drinks, right? Certainly, except for perhaps cigarettes, and maybe sugar or coffee, alcohol is the most commonly used substance that could be considered to be addictive.

While the American public was busy with other matters, the alcoholic beverage industry and certain scientists conspired to prove that alcohol consumption improves health, ignoring existing science showing a definite connection between alcohol and cancer, among other problems.

A new study on the effects of binge drinking has revealed a new and lasting danger associated with this activity. Binge drinking during one’s younger years has been shown to have a permanently damaging effect on the strength of a woman’s bones.

Imagine you go to a popular bar with friends on a Saturday night. That night, thousands of drinks will be served, some to people drinking excessively. You might not realize that every American is paying several hundred dollars a year for that excessive consumption of alcohol.